Forest Service Crews Respond to Two-Tree Fire Now Dubbed the Summit 2 Fire; Lightning-Sparked Fire Is First of the Season

This afternoon’s thunderstorm has resulted in a small fire, sparked by lightning, which has burned two trees on the San Bernardino National Forest, just west of Snow Summit resort. Smoke had been visible just before 2pm (today, July 17) and was in fact reported by the Municipal Water District’s Lake Patrol, and U.S. Forest Service crews responded to locate the fire which, again, is just two trees—though the incident has been named the Summit 2 Fire. On scene in the 2pm hour were one Forest Service engine, one patrol, and one battalion chief with crew, as well as six firefighters from the Big Bear Lake Fire Department, with a brush engine and water tender. The U.S. Forest Service has been doing reconnaissance flights over the San Bernardino National Forest during storms of recent days and, as John Miller with the Forest Service told KBHR this afternoon, this is the first confirmed lighting fire in recent storms. The Summit 2 Fire just west of Snow Summit is the first and, at this time, only fire on the forest. Two aircraft, including a helicopter from Heaps Peak, will continue to monitor for lightning-sparked fires in the Big Bear Valley for the rest of the day. The Big Bear City Fire Department and crews from County Fire station #49 from Fawnskin had been called to the Summit 2 Fire, though it was managed by Forest Service staff and Big Bear Lake Fire and these two other local crews were recalled. The Big Bear City Fire Department covered for the Big Bear Lake Fire Department while they were on the Summit 2 Fire.Update: The Summit 2 Fire was knocked out by crews around 3pm, though firefighters will remain on scene. Big Bear Lake Fire Chief Rod Ballard asks that you help them help you, by clearing defensible space. More information is available at ThinIsIn.org.